Tom's Mad Blog
October 5th, 2006 | Posted in General
WARNING: Spoilers Ahead. Do not read if you do not want to know details of the season premiere of ABC’s “LOST” I watched the season premiere of “LOST” last night. I’m still digesting it, but I am sorry to say I didn’t come away too excited about the next episodes. Maybe I’m expecting too much, and one episode into the season is way too early to see where it’s going, but I am getting worried that LOST is getting lost itself in it’s never-ending peeling of a layer to reveal another layer storytelling. I’m concerned that this ship is sailing in undeniably interesting waters but… READ MORE
October 4th, 2006 | Posted in MAD Magazine
I’ve mentioned before that some TV shows that I parody in MAD I could care less about. I’ll watch as many episodes as possible to get a feel for the show and what it is about, the quirks and little things I can make fun of, and then never watch it again after I’m done with the art. Occasionally, however, I’ll start watching a show and get hooked on it. The ultimate example of that is when I was assigned to do the art for Lost. The show was already 10 episodes into season one when I got the job, so finding previous episodes was… READ MORE
October 3rd, 2006 | Posted in General
I’m back from my very brief trip to Orlando which included a quick visit to the NCN convention, which had just gotten started yesterday. It’s too bad the one day I was able to pop in was day number one, as the walls had very little art on them even as late as I hung out last night. By Wednesday night this giant conference room will be overflowing with thousands of caricatures on every available wall space. I snapped a few pictures late Monday (technically early Tuesday) but all I could get was people working. Pictures below. I’ve been to seven conventions, and they get… READ MORE
October 2nd, 2006 | Posted in General
Despite last week’s computer disaster I am still leaving today to go to Orlando for a very short visit. The actual reason is park related business but I managed to coincide the business part with the NCN convention so I could pop in and see some good friends. I’ll take some pictures and post them tomorrow, but since it’s so early in the week there will not be much art up on the walls. I’ll be having dinner with two of my favorite people, talented caricaturist and cartoonist Keelan Parham and his lovely wife Barbie. Should be fun and I could use the breather. I… READ MORE
October 1st, 2006 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: How long does it take to do a MAD movie/TV parody? A: As long as they give me. The process of doing a parody involves a lot of people, and it all depends on how fast the editors want it in the magazine as to how much time I end up getting for the art. I don’t know whether the editors assign a movie to a certain writer, or if writers suggest doing a movie and submit a rough draft or outline of the parody (I suspect it’s mostly the former these days), but either way first the script needs to be written. Then… READ MORE
September 30th, 2006 | Posted in General
You’ve seen me write in this space about the proposed legislation that would radically alter copyright law in a way that would be a disaster for creative professionals. Congress was scheduled to adjourn this session yesterday and it looks like the bill did not make it out of committee. That’s good. What’s bad is there are still some legislators set on getting this thing passed. I cannot see a single benefit for anyone except companies and publishers that formerly had to buy the rights to use illustrations, photos, books or other creative works and can now use them for free if they cannot find the… READ MORE
September 29th, 2006 | Posted in General
As I wrote last week, Saturday the 23rd was The Lovely Anna and my 18 year wedding anniversary. We had a lovely dinner in an excellent french restaurant in Minneapolis… it’s nice to be married to someone who’s company is still the best thing about any day. We exchanged gifts as well, of course. In the last 18 years, I’ve given her diamonds, furniture, collectors statues, trips and more diamonds… I try to spoil her. Still no matter what I come up with or how much it might cost I will never be able to top the present she got for me for our 10… READ MORE
September 28th, 2006 | Posted in General
As promised, here’s some of the final art for the parody of “Grey’s Anatomy” due in MAD #472. Except for the fact that it looks nothing like George, it turned out okay considering both the time squeeze and the computer crash. — — — Here’s the final of the “Christmas” workplace poster art, which I just finished this morning. Now I get to spend a few hours trying to rebuild my contact list and much of my data on the Mac Pro. You don’t really realize how much you depend on these boxes of circuits and wires until something like this happens. I keep thinking… READ MORE
